MySQL is a relational database system. If you can believe many diehard MySQL fans, MySQL is faster, more reliable, and cheaper -- or, simply put, better -- than any other database system. Many MySQL opponents continue to challenge this viewpoint, going even so far as to assert that MySQL is not even a relational database system.
Many of the world's largest and fastest-growing organizations including Facebook, Google, Adobe, Alcatel Lucent and Zappos rely on MySQL to save time and money powering their high-volume Web sites, business-critical systems and packaged software.
Below you will find valuable resources including case studies and white papers that will help you implement cost-effective database solutions using MySQL.
Whether you are a Web developer, CNESM, or a dedicated network administrator with an interest in building database applications, MySQL is easy to use, yet extremely powerful, secure, and scalable. And because of its small size and speed, it is the ideal database solution for Web sites.
It supports several development interfaces: Development interfaces include JDBC, ODBC, and scripting (PHP and Perl), letting you create database solutions that run not only in your NetWare 6.5 environment, but across all major platforms, including Linux, UNIX, and Windows.
MySQL is a database management system (DBMS). A database is a structured collection of data. It might be anything from a simple shopping list to a picture gallery, to the vast amounts of information in a corporate network.
The fact is that there is an ever increasing number of MySQL users, and the overwhelming majority of them are quite satisfied with MySQL. Thus for these users we may say that MySQL is good enough.
It is also the fact, however, that MySQL still lacks a number of features that are taken for granted with other database systems. If you require such features, then MySQL is (at least for the present) not the database system for you. MySQL is not a panacea.
In the interest of speed, MySQL designers made the decision to offer fewer features than other major database competitors. However, despite having fewer features than the other commercial database products, MySQL still offers all of the features required by most database developers.
It's easy to use. While a basic knowledge of SQL is required—and most relational databases require the same knowledge—MySQL is very easy to use. With only a few simple SQL statements, you can build and interact with MySQL.
MySQL includes solid data security layers that protect sensitive data from intruders. Rights can be set to allow some or all privileges to individuals. Passwords are encrypted.